Anyone having trouble having insulin hand inspected?

[Chicago526]

My DH is diabetic. Last week he flew home for his grandmother's funeral ( ). Since insulin becomes useless if exposed to x-rays, he asked to have it hand inspected, as allowed per TSA rules. No problems at Chicago O'Hare, but flying home from Harrisburg, the TSA agent gave him a heck of a time over it. DH held firm, and even the people behind him in line jumped to his defence! Eventualy the agent gave in, swabed it, and handed it back over, but good grief! You'd think he was trying to get ligher fluid on board!

I just wanted to find out if anyone else has had problems, and if so, how do you handle it?

 

[Selket]

I've definitely had insulin gone through the airport screening x-ray machine without a problem. My son has been diabetic (type 1) for over 2 years now and I've never heard of anyone saying this is a problem or even an issue.

I looked at the American Diabetes Website and they say this (http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public-accommodation.jsp):

Please Note: Under normal conditions, insulin can safely pass through X-ray machines at airport terminals. If the insulin remains in the path of the X-ray longer than normal, or if it is repeatedly exposed to X-rays, be careful. This can affect the stability of your insulin. If you have concerns about X-rays, you can request hand-inspection. Also, insulin never should be placed in checked baggage. Passenger baggage stored in cargo holds is subject to powerful X-rays. It also could be affected by severe changes in pressure and temperature. Inspect your insulin before injecting each dose. If you notice anything unusual about the appearance of your insulin or you notice that your insulin needs are changing, call your doctor.

Here are other tips:
http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public_accommodation/travel.jsp


I suggest that you call the company that makes the insulin(s) your husband is on and ask them specifically if this is a problem - for it to go through the machine - and see what they say. This might let you avoid the problem all together of hand inspection. I would be interested in their response.

 

[Chicago526]

I've definitely had insulin gone through the airport screening x-ray machine without a problem. My son has been diabetic (type 1) for over 2 years now and I've never heard of anyone saying this is a problem or even an issue.

I looked at the American Diabetes Website and they say this (http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public-accommodation.jsp):

Please Note: Under normal conditions, insulin can safely pass through X-ray machines at airport terminals. If the insulin remains in the path of the X-ray longer than normal, or if it is repeatedly exposed to X-rays, be careful. This can affect the stability of your insulin. If you have concerns about X-rays, you can request hand-inspection. Also, insulin never should be placed in checked baggage. Passenger baggage stored in cargo holds is subject to powerful X-rays. It also could be affected by severe changes in pressure and temperature. Inspect your insulin before injecting each dose. If you notice anything unusual about the appearance of your insulin or you notice that your insulin needs are changing, call your doctor.

Here are other tips:
http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public_accommodation/travel.jsp


I suggest that you call the company that makes the insulin(s) your husband is on and ask them specifically if this is a problem - for it to go through the machine - and see what they say. This might let you avoid the problem all together of hand inspection. I would be interested in their response.

Interesting! DH did have it sent through once (before we heard it could cause problems) and he did say it didn't seem to work, his numbers didn't come down hardly at all. But we'll check with the drug company and see what they say!

 

[Selket]

I can definitely see if he travels a lot (like for work, etc) and that same vial or pen of insulin is going through a lot I would have some concerns....at least worth keeping an eye on!

Otherwise...it is hard to say what happened to his insulin last time. I've known many parents to toss out some insulin thinking it is bad cause their kid is running on the high side for a day or two - and it turns out they are in the very early stages of getting sick. Or perhaps having something to do with eating more fat/protein in the meals than usual. Or sometimes we never figure it out - at least for type 1. Perhaps the same for type 2 as well!

I'd like to know what they say if you call them about the insulin.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'd like to know too because I have not heard anything before about any problems with insulin and x-rays. I would be the majority of insulin goes thru the scanners rather than being hand inspected.
Also, I don't imagine they can see anything more thru the scanner than they can by hand inspecting it - insulin doesn't have anything about it that would make it look different under the x-ray scanner than any other liquid in a vial.

Even if xrays cause no harm, if he wants it hand inspected, he has that right. I'd suggest printing out a copy of the part on the TSA website that says it can be done.

 

[BCV23]

We've been sending our son's insulin through regular screening since he developed type I juvenile onset in 1988 although we're they doing zrays way back then?

Also my husband flies nearly every week and has never had his insulin handchecked.

But traveling alone can really do a number on blood glucose numbers. And we have found that even insulin that doesn't need to be cooled normally does on WDW trips in warmer weather. I use a Frio for my son's Humalog when traveling.